Method of and means for sealing receptacles



Jan, 21, 1930. R. N. CARVALHO METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SEALING REGEPTACLES Filed Sept. 26, 1927 v dammed Jan. 21, 1930 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESLIE R. N. CARVALHO, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLOSURE SERVICE COM- PANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR SEALING RECEPTAGLES Application filed September 26, 1927. Serial No. 221,916.

The present invention relates to improvements in methods of and means for sealing receptacles and embodies novel receptacle and closure structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a corner seal combined with a closure,

whose construction permits exceptionally high compression of the sealing gasket to effect perfect side, bottom and top sealing,

and in which the closure is readily adapted for repeated use.

A further object is to provide a corner seal in which the sealing element is vertically compressible by pressure exerted dur- 1! ing initial application of a closure and is then diagonally compressible during the final closure {attaching operation. To this end, the construction embodies a jar or other container having a circular recess formed in 2n the .outer corner of the sealing end thereof to receive a sealing ring which is carried by and within a capor closure. The closure is initially positioned on the jar and a seal is then efi'ected'by the application of top pressure which causes initial downward compression and consequent lateral expansion of the sealing element into snug contact with the sealing surfaces. Further compression of the sealing element at an angle to the direction of initial compression is effected by downwardly and inwardly compressing the closure flange to a position in which the closure attaching means is secured to the jar.

It is also an object to provide in a device of the above character, a pry-off rib or ledge encircling the jar and s9 located relative to the closure attaching flange", that a coin or some suitable instrument may be employed as a lever to engage the closure attaching corrugations in breaking the seal and facilitating removalof the closure.

Other objects will be apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view with parts in section showing the improved closure.

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in full lines the position of the closure retaining flange prior to inward rolling thereof, and in dotted lines the retaining flange in its final closurefastening position.

showing in detail the efiect of the closure applying operation upon the sealing gasket.

The jar or similar container 10 has the outer corner of its sealing or finish end cut away to provide a gasket receiving channel having bottom and side sealing surfaces 11 and 12, respectively, preferably disposed at right angles to each other. The sealing element or gasket 22 may be in the form of a ring of rubber or some similar comparatively inexpensive composition. An annular shoulder 16 (Fig. 2) is formed on the exterior of the jar 10 and is curved slightly transversely of its length to facilitate rolling of the closure flange thereover and separation of the corrugations therefrom as will be apparent hereinafter.

The closure 17. is of extremely simple formation and comprises a single piece of light sheet metal which is stamped to the proper shape by a single operation. This closure includes a top portion or button 18 formed with a continuous depending flange gations 20 at its lower edge which are ada ted to be crimped over the annular shoul er 16 in the closure a plying operation. The increased height 0? the flange provides a smooth surface for contact with the sealing gasket, in that the corrugations 20 are sufficiently spaced from the top portion of the cap to permit afiixing the gasket to the flange at a point above the corrugations. This is in direct contrast to the construction of the usual crown seal cap in which the corrugations extend substantially the entire width of the. attaching flange. The top portion or button 18 is stepped downwardly at a point in proximity to the upper end of the flange 19 (Fig.5) to form a gasket carrying and compressing shoulder 21. A sealing gasket 22 of ring-like formation is suitably affixed to the inner corner of the closure 17 as by use of an oil-proof adhesive, rubber cement-or the like. This gasket is substantially rectangular in cross sect-ion so that it conforms to the recess at the upper end of the jar 10. The

sealing gasket is of such construction that it will entirely fill any depressions or the like on the inner face of the flange 19 and sealing surface 12 of the corner recess. In this connection, it will be noted that one side of the sealing ring 22 contacts with this grooved surface and the opposite side of the gasket contacts with the side sealing surface 12 which forms a part of the jar structure. Thus, with top pressure applied to the gasket as will be described, the sealing material will be forced radially outward into the grooves and thereby prevent leakage by way of the grooves.

The invention herein disclosed is-particularly adaptable for use with goods being packed hot and requiring a vacuum seal. In applying the closure, it is seated upon the jar or container 10 and top pressure is applied by any preferred device (not'shown) to' the shoulder 21 which overlies the sealing gasket 22. Thus, the gasket is compressed vertically and expanded laterally, forcing it into snug sealing contact with the bottom and side surfaces 11 and 12 (Fig. 5), and the inner faces of the shoulder 21 and flange 19. While the gasket 22 is held in this highly compressed state, a second tool (not shown) is moved downwardly over the flange 19 to roll the corrugations 20 inwardly over the annular shoulder 16. This inward rolling of the corrugations 20 serves to exert a downward pull on the flange 19 and has a strong tendency to increase the angle between the gasket compressing shoulder 21 and the flange 19 so that the gasket is further compressed and forced into even more effective engagement with the sealing surfaces. This is due to the continued downward movement of the attaching flange 19 after the 'button or top portion has come to rest upon the sealing end of the container. Duringthis further compression, the pressure is mainly applied diagonally inward from the upper outer corner of the gasket, causing movement of por-v tionsof the sealing material into the spaces between the closure and jar at points just beyond the normal areas of contact of the gasket and surfaces 11 and 12 substantially as indicated by arrows in Fig. 5. Inward rolling of the corrugations over the shoulder 16, in addition to causing this further compression of the gasket 22, effectively attache the closure to the jar 10. a

In Figs. 4 and 5, the jar 10 is shown provided with a circmnferential groove or channel 13 formed in theouter face of the jar 10 at a point in proximity toand spaced below the bottom sealing surface 11. This channel 13 is formed witha fiat bottom wall 14 which forms the upper end of a pry-off rib 15 (Figs. 4 and 5). The inner and upper walls of the channel 13 follow a continuously curved line, which, as shown in Fig. 5, merges into the outer surface of the ar 10, providing the shoulder 16 heretofore mentioned and over which a portion of the closure 17 may be crimped as has been brought out. The corrugations 20, in their final closure fastening position, are so disposed with respect to the pry-off rib 15 that a coin or other similar suitable instrumentmay be used as a lever to lift the closure and sealing ring away from the jar to thereby break the vacuum and permit ready removal of the closure.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the invention provides a closure which, when used in connection with hot packed goods, is effectively held in sealing position by vacuum within the jar and is further secured in place by the corrugations which are rolled over the shoulder on the jar. Also, the two distinct applications of pressure to the sealing gasket along different paths, as pointed out, materially increase the effectiveness of the sealing element. Further, the construction is such that the closure may be repeatedly used by merely snapping it into place.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a jar having a gasket receiving'recess at its sealing end, and an external annular shoulder below and in proximity to said recess; a closure including a top portion, an annular depending flange formed at the margin of the top portion, a circular flat shoulder formed internally of the closure adjacent the periphery of the top portion, a sealing gasket aifixed to the inner face of said shoulder and adapted to seat in said recess, and an annular series of corrugations at the lower edge of the flange to take over the shoulder on the jar to compress the gasket and afiix the closure to the 2. In combmation, a ar having a gasketreceiving recess at its sealing end, and an external annular shoulder below and in proximity tosaid recess; a closure including a top portion an annular depending flange formed at the margin of the top portion, a circular flat shoulder formed internally of the closure adjacent the periphery of the top portion, a sealing gasket afiixed to the inner face of said shoulder and adapted to seat in said recess, an annular series of corrugations at the lower edge of the flange to take over the shoulder on the jar to compress the gasket and aflix the closure to the jar, and an external pry-0E rib extending about a closure comprismg a circular top portion formed with a marginal shoulder adapted to be projected into said recess, a circular flange depending from the margin of said marginal shoulder and normally disposed at a right angle thereto, a sealing ring secured to the inner face of the shoulder on said closure'and adapted to fit into the recess, and means formed on the lower margin of the flange to take over the shoulder on the jar and thereby secure the closure in sealing position, said last named means serving during its application to the jar to increase the angle between said flange and shoulder on the closure to thereby apply pressure to the sealing gasket along lines inclined to the vertical.

4:.v In combination, a jar having a circular recess formed in the outer corner of its sealing end and an annular external rib formed on the ar below said recess, the lower surface of said rib forming an annular shoulder; and a closure comprising a circular top portion formed with a marginal shoulder adapted to be projected into said recess, a circular flange depending from the margin of said marginal shoulder and normally disposed at a right angle thereto, a sealing ring secured to the inner face of the shoulder on said closure and adapted to fit into the recess, andmeans formed on the lower margin of the flange to takeover the shoulder on the ar and thereby secure the closure in sealing position, said last named means serving during its application to the jar to increase the anglebetween said flange and shoulder on the closure to thereby apply pressure to the sealing gasket along lines inclined to the vertical, said last named means comprising an annular series of cor-' rugations.

5. The method of closing containers wherein a sealing ring is arranged in a recess formed in the outer corner of the sealing applying top pressure to the ring to vertically compress and laterally expand the ring, and then applying additional ressure and a closure cap with the sealing ring arranged in an annular recess formed in the outer corner of the sealing end of the container, which consists in initially applying top pressure through the cap to the sealing ring to vertically compress and laterally expand the ring, then applying additional pressure laterally througha depending flange portion of the closure to the ring while said top pressure is-continued and thereby causing the application of a component pressure to the ring in a downwardly inclined direction, and engaging the lower margin of said flange portion with the container to thereby secure the closure in position with said ring held under said pressure.

7. A 'ar having a circular recess in the outer corner of its sealing end to receive a sealing ring, a shoulder encircling the jar at a point below and in proximity to said a recess to engage a corrugated attaching flange on a closure, said shoulder curved transverse 1y of its length, and a pry-off rib encircling the jar below and in proximity to -the shoulder and forming with said shoulder an annular groove into which the corrugations project, the inner wall of said groove being curved upwardly and outwardly and. merging into the curved shoulder.

8. In combination, a jar having a gasket receiving recess at its sealing end, an external annular shoulder below and in proximity to said recess and a pryofl rib encircling the jar adjacent and below the shoulder; a

closure including a top portion and an annular depending flange formed with the 'margin of the top portion, a sealing, gasket a'fxed to the inner face of the top portion and adapted to seat in said recess, and an annular series'of corrugations at the lower edge Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio,'this 24th day of September, 1927.

LESLIE R. N. CARVALHO.

- end of the container, consisting in initially 

